Sustainability Services Manager

KPMG South Africa; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A global professional services firm in Johannesburg is seeking a Sustainability Services Manager to lead assurance and advisory projects focused on ESG. This role requires in-depth experience in sustainability reporting, project management skills, and the ability to build strong client relationships. The ideal candidate will have 6–7 years of experience in non-financial assurance and a relevant degree. Join us to enhance your career in a dynamic and rewarding environment.

Benefits

Access to market-leading learning and development programs

Opportunity for work on rewarding projects

Qualifications

• 6–7 years’ experience in Assurance and Reporting of non-financial/ESG information.
• 6 years project management experience in a similar environment.
• Knowledge of assurance standards and ESG reporting criteria.

Responsibilities

• Manage assurance and advisory projects within Sustainability Services.
• Conduct site visits and review work performed.
• Build and maintain client relationships.

Skills

Project management

Client liaison

Analytical thinking

Business development

Microsoft Office

Education

Undergraduate degree in commerce, accounting, finance, or equivalent

Postgraduate diploma/degree

Job description

Introduction to KPMG

Recognized as a great place to work and build a successful career, KPMG provides Audit, Tax, and Advisory services to organizations across today’s leading industries. Our growth is driven by delivering impactful results for clients, supported by a culture that nurtures individual development, promotes inclusivity, rewards innovation, and contributes to communities.

If you’re passionate about your future, join our team. Our diverse teams of subject matter experts help clients make informed decisions that confidently drive value and deliver exceptional results. With deep sector expertise and global experience, we provide comprehensive solutions in deal‑making, tax, regulatory, and advisory services.

Our Values are the foundation of everything we do and every action that we take. We are a people business. Our people define what we can achieve, and our refreshed Values offer a strong foundation that is fit for the future. These Values define the expectations we have of each other, and most importantly, ourselves. Ultimately, they are core to who we are as a firm, what it means to work at KPMG, and help us achieve our Purpose.

Together we continue our journey to be the most trusted and trustworthy professional services firm, staying committed to our purpose and values as we navigate the future in a rapidly evolving world.

We are currently looking for a Sustainability Services Manager within our Advisory Function in Johannesburg.

Job Description

The Sustainability Services team provides ESG assurance and a wide range of ESG‑related advisory services. Our multidisciplinary team works with a range of established methodologies to identify strengths, weaknesses, and risks in organisations’ interactions with society, and uses this knowledge to strengthen impact.

Due to the heightened awareness around ESG and its increasing importance for all organisations, there has been an increase in ESG considerations and inclusions in proposals and client liaisons throughout the business. It is imperative that the Sustainability Services team works with teams across all business units to ensure that each of the relevant ESG pillars are being considered when offering services or delivering on work, which will ultimately result in increased value to the client.

Sustainability Services requires an experienced Manager to work with the current leadership team to deliver on the upcoming workload of assurance and advisory projects. The Manager will need to project manage the assurance and reporting engagements and direct, guide and supervise the allocated team. There is an expectation to also work with the leads across the KPMG Business units to build KPMG solutions in Assurance and Reporting as well as prepare and deliver on proposals.

Key Responsibilities

• Site visits
• Review of work performed
• Report writing
• First review of work performed and documentation thoroughly and completely and in line with KPMG’s quality standard
• Team planning and management
• Client liaison, creating and maintaining close working relationships with existing and potential internal and external clients
• Management and delivery of sustainability assurance engagements
• Oversight of financial elements of projects (budget determination and management, billing, overrun negotiations with clients)
• Responsibilities for wider unit management within the Sustainability Services team (training, finance, planning, and performance management)
• Supporting and mentoring junior staff

In Terms Of These Two Pillars (Assurance And Reporting)

• Actively seeking opportunities for new work, proposal development and translating these into revenue‑generating projects
• Proactively engaging with other teams within the wider KPMG to take advantage of cross selling opportunities whilst ensuring holistic client solutions
• Ongoing relationship building, ideas sharing and support of global pursuits with other KPMG international offices
• Ongoing personal and professional development to remain technically relevant and able to deploy applicable methodologies with confidence
• Quality review of client deliverables

Skills And Attributes Required For The Role

• Good understanding of Assurance standards applied (ISAE 3000 and ISAE 3410 at minimum). Familiarity with KPMG sustainability assurance methodology would be beneficial.
• Project management skills
• Fully Microsoft Office competent, specifically Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Report writing and communication skills
• Business development skills
• Client liaison with strong relationship management skills
• Presentation skills
• Analytical thinker and problem‑solving ability
• Ability to multi‑task and meet strict deadlines
• Presentable, professional and confident
• Ability to manage stress and work under pressure
• Ability to work in a team environment and manage a team proactively with a can‑do attitude
• Ability to work unsupervised, be accountable and make decisions
• Strong attention to detail/methodical/analytical
• Willing to travel

Minimum Requirements to Apply for the Role

• Undergraduate degree in either commerce, accounting, economics, development economics, finance, social science, business administration or equivalent
• Postgraduate diploma / degree is advantageous
• 6–7 years’ experience within Assurance and Reporting of non‑financial/ ESG information
• 6 years project management experience in a similar environment
• Knowledge and experience in performing and managing external assurance and reporting engagements
• Detailed knowledge regarding assurance standards and ESG reporting criteria
• Experience in advisory engagements would be advantageous
• Experience in people management and business development is necessary.
• An understanding of the broader services offered by KPMG in order to identify internal and external business opportunities across advisory, and the ability to work across teams / business units is essential

Join KPMG now to explore a career in an environment where learning lasts a lifetime, where you’ll have the opportunity to work on rewarding projects that will give you invaluable experience and drive your professional growth. You’ll also have access to market‑leading learning and development programs and opportunities. Come thrive with us, where the best of the best converges to showcase subject matter expertise, world‑class innovators, and superior client service.